Goliad in Goliad County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Mission Rosario

A Mission for the Karankawas

Photographed by Steve Gustafson, June 13, 2010

1. Mission Rosario Marker

Inscription. Missionaries from the college of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Zacatecas founded Nuestra Señora del Rosario in 1754 for the coastal Karankawa tribes. The extensive cattle ranching operation begun by sister mission Espiritu Santo also supported Mission Rosario. However, the mission Indians periodically abandoned the mission when supplies were short. By 1807, it was combined with Mission Refugio nearer the coast. Mission Rosario was officially closed in 1831 as part of earlier secularization orders.

Today the largely undisturbed site of the Spanish Colonial mission provides unique opportunities for scholarly research. Through carefully controlled excavations, the archaeological process will bring to light new information about the Native American and Spanish inhabitants of late 18th-century Texas.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1754.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 28° 38.703′ N, 97° 26.393′ W. Marker was in Goliad, Texas, in Goliad County. It was on U.S. 59, on the right when traveling east. 4 miles west of Goliad. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Goliad TX 77963, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in South Texas.

It was also in the American South.

Globally, it was in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Site of Mission Nuestra Señora del Rosario (here, next to this marker); Mission Rosario State Historic Site / Sitio Histórico Estatal Misión Nuestra Señora del Rosario (within shouting distance of this marker); Mission Nuestra Senora del Rosario (within shouting distance of this marker); Goliad County (within shouting distance of this marker); Blazing New Trails / Abriendo Nuevos Horizontes (within shouting distance of this marker); Bird's Eye View / Vista Aérea (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lott Cemetery (approx. 2 miles away); Peck Cemetery (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Goliad.

Photographed by Steve Gustafson, June 13, 2010

2. Mission Rosario Marker

Excavated walls image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Gustafson, June 13, 2010

3. Excavated walls

Portion of excavated walls at Mission Rosario.

Decorated wall section image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Gustafson, June 13, 2010

4. Decorated wall section

Decorated plastered wall fragment excavated at Mission Rosario in 1972.

Coastal hunters image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Gustafson, June 13, 2010

5. Coastal hunters

Karankawa Indians - 1830.

Mission Rosario Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Gustafson, June 13, 2010

6. Mission Rosario Markers

Photographed by James Hulse, October 23, 2023

7. Mission Rosario Marker

The marker is no longer next to the Texas Historic Commission marker.

Mission Rosario ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Gustafson, June 13, 2010

8. Mission Rosario ruins

The site is still being studied and can only be visited by appointment.

Photographed by Richard Hawkins, September 22, 2025

9. Mission Rosario Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. This page has been viewed 2,209 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 10, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. 7. submitted on November 2, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 8. submitted on August 10, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. 9. submitted on September 22, 2025, by Richard Hawkins of Phelan, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.